Twelve hours.
Ping, isn't there.
Can't tracert.
DNSflushing, down the drain.
Reboot windows with each change.
DNS lookup set to OpenDNS, as primary, ISP as secondary (for safety).
Reboot router, reboot windows.
Hole in Windows firewall dedicated to LFS and required port in and out.
Reboot.
Linux powered IPTables firewall in router opened to LFS and correct port.
Reboot both again.

WINDOWS firewall shut down, right bloody now.

And still I can't get this simulator to connect to the master server to unlock my brand spanking new best toy ever.

I can't think straight any more, I'm going to bed.

Ping isn't "there"? You mean that the ping command doesn't exist, or that it doesn't respond? :P Can you actually resolve the IP of the master server at all?

I'm surprised that if you're running an iptables firewall that you've not mastered providing simple information and managed to not post in the thread above. All this seems to be is a rant.

Some ISPs prevent ICMP packets from going anywhere, which may be causing the lack of ping response and traceroute/tracert output. Have you considered using the alternative master server port? (open the cfg.txt for LFS, find the Master server port directive and change to 8080).

Talking to the LFS master is a outgoing connection only, so opening incoming ports is irrelevant and only for broken routers (which most havent been around for at least 2 or 3 years), and for running servers, so arsing around with your firewall is likely to been pointless - unless you happen to have an outgoing firewall for your desktops.

Short of that, shall we just pull a random answer out of our arses? People are more than willing to help here, if you're not being a dick.

I think I may have a whacked installation of WinXP. I can't get the commands "ping" and "tracert" to function, I think you may be right. They may be missing.

CMD responds "ping not recognized as an internal or external command"

Same with tracert and DNSFlush.

I haven't been able to resolve the master server in any way at all.

My system doesn't even respond to the batch file, kindly written and posted by a member, just for retired ex-Navy steam ship engineers like me.

[url]file:///F:/My%20Documents/My%20Received%20Files/LFS/LFS_CTESTRESULTS.txt[/url]

See? I ran the batch file and THAT is the total result.

It's exactly because my system just won't give me the information you need, that I could not see my way free to post in the MOST obvious place. I read that thread from end to end, I even copied and pasted parts of it so I did not make a mistake. So I thought. Downloaded the batch file when all else failed.
I double checked my "hosts" file, it's empty, see?

[url]file:///C:/WINDOWS/system32/drivers/etc/hosts[/url]


Even the last ditch effort in the firewall system is mentioned in Victor's thread.

The information on ICMP packets is news to me, thank you. I'll try redirecting LFS to the alternative master server port.


As for the rest? Call it a frustrated desperate plea for help.
So if there is anything useful up your arse, it would be appreciated.
Dick!

Every thing else has utterly failed to connect to the master server.
And as an ex-serviceman pensioner, who has saved for almost a year to buy a liscence to unlock this simulator, at the moment this is a total waste of money, and this trouble is pissing me right off.

EDIT.

Great. Even the damned text files don't show up in the damned post.
Bah, I let you know how I go with port 8080.

I apologise if my first post came across as being rather short. Whilst that was what I intended the first time, it wouldn't be how I'd word it now. Then again we all have the benefit of hindsight...

Ignoring LFS for a moment -

Quote from shorty943 :

I think I may have a whacked installation of WinXP. I can't get the commands "ping" and "tracert" to function, I think you may be right. They may be missing.

Ok, can you try this alternatively. Going into a "16 bit" command prompt (start > run, type "command" (without quotes)) and then typing "ping master.liveforspeed.net" and "tracert master...etc...". Do you still get:

if so, can you type the following into the command prompt?

This should output a string of text, known as the path. This tells the system where to look for stuff. Within it should be (assuming Windows is installed to C:\Windows - subsitute if not)

What version of XP are you running? Home or Pro? Is this a corporate PC by any chance?

Thank's for the quick reply Angry. Just a bit frustrated with this unlock lockup.

It took a while to get this right, but.

Here goes.
Check 1.
I am running the 0.5X version of the full client.

Test 1 and 2.

16 bit command ping and tracert results.

Microsoft(R) Windows DOS
(C)Copyright Microsoft Corp 1990-2001.

C:\DOCUME~1\SHORTY>ping master.liveforspeed.net
'PING' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\DOCUME~1\SHORTY>tracert master.liveforspeed.net
'TRACERT' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\DOCUME~1\SHORTY>

Test 3.

16 bit Echo %path% results.

Microsoft(R) Windows DOS
(C)Copyright Microsoft Corp 1990-2001.

C:\DOCUME~1\SHORTY>echo %path%
C:\PROGRA~1\Aqsis\bin;%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\W
bem;C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\GTK\2.0\bin

C:\DOCUME~1\SHORTY>

Test or check 4.

Hosts file.

# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

127.0.0.1 localhost


Not looking good there.

Is there something I should know about my Windows XP Pro SP2 Corporate edition? A spare number from a friends MS Partners Pack.

It is not in a corporate network of any kind, it's the only machine I have that runs XP.
I also have a 1.6GB Acer, that runs Linux for fun, and an Acer 3000 laptop also on Linux, for real work.
Neither of which, are even plugged in or running at the moment.

This machine is an MSI K8 series M\b, Athlon 64 bit 3.4 Gb CPU, 1 Gb of DDR2 RAM, nVidea 5500 Graphics with 512 Mb of VRAM, onboard Realtek sound (AC97), connected to ADSL via a Billion VoIP router through ISP www.internode.com.

Windows is installed in C:\Windows, as you would expect, LFS is in a ~\Games\LFS\X folder, (I still have S1 in its folder there as well.), under F:\My documents, on a 120 Gb SATA drive, but, that shouldn't make any difference.

I tried port 8080, even tried telling the system to go to the IP address 213.40.20.2. No go.

I don't know what else to do, I have followed every instruction, to the letter. To no avail.
As we say out here in Aussie, "She's stuffed, mate".

try to write your command while you're directly on c:

type " cd.. " until the path change from C:\DOCUME~1\SHORTY> to c:\>

after that try to ping master.liveforspeed.net

You do know that you need to type "ping whatever" right? Typing ping on it's own wont work.

Tried ping google.co.uk?

Quote from Jakg :

You do know that you need to type "ping whatever" right? Typing ping on it's own wont work.

Tried ping google.co.uk?

Have you even read his posts?

hehe i don't think so !!

Quote from pom456 :

try to write your command while you're directly on c:

type " cd.. " until the path change from C:\DOCUME~1\SHORTY> to c:\>

after that try to ping master.liveforspeed.net

Yep, tried that too, mate.
I tried every trick I can think of. I am absolutely at a loss to understand what is going wrong.

Quote from Jakg :

You do know that you need to type "ping whatever" right? Typing ping on it's own wont work.

Tried ping google.co.uk?

Mate. I do disparate networking for a computer scientist.
Consider yourself Pinged. The Navy way. You've been torpedoed out of the water.

Quote from AndroidXP :

Have you even read his posts?

Quote from pom456 :

hehe i don't think so !!

Thank's guys.

In desperation last night, I wiped the entire game folder, went to "LFS.NET" to do a fresh download. LFS pointed me straight back to the mirror server at my ISP in Adelaide SA. My home state capital city. The very server set I want to join, to enter my state league.
I can log in to the LFS site, the entire system recognises me as a paid up legit S2 liscence holder.
But, I still can't connect to the master server to unlock my game.


I am pissed right off.
At the moment, they have my ****ing money, I can't unlock my legit purchase, and I get a mouth full of shit, from some toolhead YOUNG geek.

To those who have genuinely tried to help.
Angry Angel, pom456, AndriodXP.
My most sincere thanks.

Quote from shorty943 :

But, I still can't connect to the master server to unlock my game.

Did you try this: http://www.lfsforum.net/showthread.php?p=616197#post616197?

Ooooops.

Didnt read the rest of the post for some wierd reason. Sorry.

So what if i'm young...?

Ok, this might look a bit stupid now, but I've attached the ping.exe and tracert.exe from my windows\system32 folder. Hopefully that way you can finally check what's happening.

Quote from Jakg :

So what if i'm young...?

Please... don't derail this topic. The topic starter is obviously pretty frustrated about his unlocking problems - your lazy moment just struck at the wrong time

Quote from AndroidXP :

Ok, this might look a bit stupid now, but I've attached the ping.exe and tracert.exe from my windows\system32 folder. Hopefully that way you can finally check what's happening.


Please... don't derail this topic. The topic starter is obviously pretty frustrated about his unlocking problems - your lazy moment just struck at the wrong time

Thank you very much AndroidXP.

I've just this minute downloaded your zip file.
I'll log out, unzip into ~\System32\
Try to ping again.
And let you know. Should only take 10 minutes.

other thing to check that there is not an old entry in your windows / system32/ drivers / ect/ hosts file. if there is not entry for master.liveforspeed.net in there then personally i would try adding it (at least it would be a temporary fix... hopefully) if there is already an entry in there for master.liveforspeed.net then remove it.

I'll explain further if androids and others suggestions turn out not to work....

Quote from franky500 :

other thing to check that there is not an old entry in your windows / system32/ drivers / ect/ hosts file. if there is not entry for master.liveforspeed.net in there then personally i would try adding it (at least it would be a temporary fix... hopefully) if there is already an entry in there for master.liveforspeed.net then remove it.

I'll explain further if androids and others suggestions turn out not to work....

Been there done that Franky.

I think I have found my problem.

Ping and tracert were already in my system32 folder.
I have a path variable problem. I had to drill down old fashioned DOS wise to get into ~\windows\system32\.
Then and only then did my machine respond correctly to the commands, and found the master server.

Now. Can somebody please refresh my crusty old memory on how to edit my path statement so that Windows can bloody well see itself?

Yay! Good to hear you could finally unlock

For environment variable editing, I think you can do it with:
- WinKEY + Pause (opens system properties)
- Tab "Advanced"
- Button "Environment Variables"

and then in the lower half, edit the path variable.

Quote from AndroidXP :

Yay! Good to hear you could finally unlock

For environment variable editing, I think you can do it with:
- WinKEY + Pause (opens system properties)
- Tab "Advanced"
- Button "Environment Variables"

and then in the lower half, edit the path variable.

Don't get the cart before the horse mate.

It all fell to crap still.

I found there were no pointers to C:\ or C:\Windows in path, so I added them at the front of the path variable statement as in old DOS.

Ripper. ping and tracert now resolve out OK.

Just went to connect with the master server to unlock.

I'm gonna nuke this bastard. The game still can't find the server.

Shorty, do not pass go, do not get jolly just yet.

I'll have another look in \etc\hosts, and see if anything has changed since about 5 minutes ago. 213.40.20.2 right? port 63392 or 8080 right?


Edit.

Nope still no good. THIS IS BULLSHIT guys. Sorry, but as a pensioner ex Navy man, I had to save to purchase this damned liscence. This is just no frigging good at all.

Thanks for all the very best intended help, I'm off to chat with the developers.

Quote from shorty943 :

I'll have another look in \etc\hosts, and see if anything has changed since about 5 minutes ago. 213.40.20.2 right? port 63392 or 8080 right?

The hosts file shouldn't magically change, and its 29339 or 8080.

Quote from the_angry_angel :

The hosts file shouldn't magically change, and its 29339 or 8080.

Thank you Angry.

I must have got some dis-information about port numbers.
I got the alternate alright, but the primary may be my problem.

I'll drop in the X10 update and try again with the correct port number opened in my router firewall.

I'll let you know.


Edit:

Still nothing, and as you can see, I have the x10 update just in case the master is an x10 server.


That is my game config file, to add to all the rest of the diagnostics.

Ip is correct.
Master server port correct.
Server and game ports, correct?
DNS set to OpenDNS, as suggested as primary, my ISP nominated DNS as secondary.
Windows and router both DNScache flushed and shutdown and rebooted.
Windows firewall and router firewall opened to LFS.EXE, on the master server port, at the above IP address.
System files over-written with files posted by a really good hearted person.
Path variable problem found and fixed.
All suggested tests now show every thing is right.

And still my copy of S2 Alpha 0.5x10 can not connect to the master server to unlock.
Why won't this resolve?

man when i hope this doesn't happen when i get my S2

shorty, make a backup of that config file for a minute and try a fresh install. and before setting anything up in a new install try loading the multiplayer screen and see what happens... Theres a couple of things in that config i dont quite get / dont think should (need to) be there.

Its a long shot.. and something simple... but its worth a try.

Maybe he's with Optus

Umm, No Gunn, didn't you read the thread?
I'm with an Adelaide South Australia company called Internode.

http://www.internode.on.net

They are the mirror LFS.net send me straight to for the download and they run a server set, but, only for licensed racers.

Okay Franky. I'll give it another go,, what the hell can it hurt. It might even work.

I'll be back in 10 to 15 minutes with news.

Thank's mate.


Edit:

Here are the results of the ping\tracert batch file tests done at 1500 Adelaide time.



Pinging master.liveforspeed.net [213.40.20.2] with 32 bytes of data:



Reply from 213.40.20.2: bytes=32 time=381ms TTL=44

Reply from 213.40.20.2: bytes=32 time=376ms TTL=44

Reply from 213.40.20.2: bytes=32 time=376ms TTL=44

Reply from 213.40.20.2: bytes=32 time=376ms TTL=44



Ping statistics for 213.40.20.2:

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

Minimum = 376ms, Maximum = 381ms, Average = 377ms



Tracing route to master.liveforspeed.net [213.40.20.2]

over a maximum of 30 hops:



1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.0.254

2 15 ms 19 ms 14 ms loop0.lns5.adl2.internode.on.net [203.16.215.249]

3 18 ms 14 ms 14 ms v14.cor3.adl2.internode.on.net [203.16.212.254]

4 227 ms 224 ms 229 ms gi0-3.bdr2.adl2.internode.on.net [203.16.212.145]

5 193 ms 199 ms 194 ms pos3-3.bdr1.syd6.internode.on.net [203.16.212.178]

6 203 ms 194 ms 194 ms pos4-1.bdr1.lax1.internode.on.net [203.16.213.149]

7 192 ms 189 ms 189 ms ge-7-11.car3.LosAngeles1.Level3.net [4.71.32.61]

8 202 ms 194 ms 204 ms ae-31-55.ebr1.LosAngeles1.Level3.net [4.68.102.158]

9 206 ms 194 ms 199 ms ae-68.ebr3.LosAngeles1.Level3.net [4.69.135.10]

10 200 ms 199 ms 199 ms ae-2.ebr3.SanJose1.Level3.net [4.69.132.9]

11 204 ms 214 ms 214 ms ae-83-83.csw3.SanJose1.Level3.net [4.69.134.234]

12 202 ms 204 ms 209 ms ae-84-84.ebr4.SanJose1.Level3.net [4.69.134.249]

13 286 ms 274 ms 269 ms ae-2.ebr4.NewYork1.Level3.net [4.69.135.186]

14 278 ms


That seems OK.
But the game does exactly the same thing

Cannot connect to the master server.

This could be for,,,,


I'm running my monthly download meter into the red, and I'm on a 5 Gb monthly limit, and I'm running out of download mirrors to pull from. I'm down to 4% of my quota for this month left.

This is getting ridiculous.
HELP ME PLEASE!

Quote from shorty943 :

Thank you Angry.

I must have got some dis-information about port numbers.
I got the alternate alright, but the primary may be my problem.

I'll drop in the X10 update and try again with the correct port number opened in my router firewall.

I'll let you know.


Edit:

Still nothing, and as you can see, I have the x10 update just in case the master is an x10 server.

Version 0.5X10
Start Windowed 0
LFS First Run 0
Show FPS 1
Sky Res 2
Haze Effect 1
Mirror Internal 1
Clocks Internal 1
Clocks External 0
Control Type 1
Steer KB 0
Next Shot 1
Thr Brk Rate 4.00
KB Steer Rate 0.40
KB Return Rate 0.20
KB Fast Mul 2.00
KB Slow Mul 0.50
KB Limit Mul 0.80
Update Path 2
Replay Skins 1
FF Step Num 256
FF Strength 50.00
Fuel Start 50
Fuel Pit 50
Tyre Limit 30
Strategy 0
MP Speedup Opt 1
Auto Get Skins 1
Helmet Skins 1
Instant Look 0
Steer Look 0
Steer Look Amount 1.00
Steer Look Reduce 0.00
VPG Tilt 1.00
VPG Right 0.000
VPG Forward 0.030
VPG Vertical 0.030
Camera Delay 1.00
MP Draw Dist 160.00
Dynamic Lod 0.50
Rubber Lay 0.60
Rubber Dark 0.80
Mip Bias -2.00
Sun Intensity 1.00
Main LOD 1.00
Mirr LOD 0.30
Dust LOD 1.00
Screen Info 0 60 1024 768
TrackEd Speed 131072
ModelEd Speed 65536
Editor Options 17
Screen Flags 119298
Sun Colour 255 255 255
Sky High 150 160 200
Ground 100 100 100
Background 30 30 30
Back Texture 100 100 100
FOX Dash 64 96 128
BF1 Dash 48 48 255
FO8 Dash 200 32 32
Split Text 200 200 200
Clock Text 200 200 200
Clock Needle 200 32 32
User FOV 129.00
Wide FOV 120.00
Editor FOV 60.00
Editor Soft 0.30
FV Lag 0.30
FV Height 0.30
FV Angle 0.21
FV Dist 5.00
FV Dir 0
Selected Car XR GT TURBO
Map Name Blackwood
Ply Name shorty943
Setup Name 107-dt
Colours Name 107
[I][U][B] Master Port 29339[/B][/U][/I]
Auto Kick 3
Address Name 1
Server IP 213.40.20.2
Server Name
Server Port 63392
Server Pass
Game Name
Game IP auto
Game Port 63392
Game Pass
Game Admin
Language English
Find User
S1 Mode 0
Upload Bandwidth 128
Music Path
Setup Index -1
Colours Index -1
Lighting 2
Flip 0
Config 2
Combined Non Linear 0.00
Turn Compensation 1.00
Mouse Non Linear 0.80
Steer Smooth 0.00
Speed Steer Reduction WM 0.00
Half Reduce Speed m/s WM 50.00
Speed Steer Reduction KB 1.00
Half Reduce Speed m/s KB 50.00
INFO_F9 1 0 640 480
INFO_F10 1 0 800 600
INFO_F11 1 0 1024 768
INFO_F12 0 60 1024 768
Disable Anim View 1
Driver Pos View 0
Show Names 0
Internal Show 1
Show Map 2
Start Lights 2
Race Start 1
Skill Level 4
Blob Size 3
Windowed Link 1
Low Res Wheels 1
No Trees 1
No Flags 1
No Rubber 1
MUSIC 0.10
BEEPS 12.00
CAR_V 15.70
ECHO_B 0.50
SKID_B 0.70
WIND_B 0.60
Sound Delay 0.10
Message Size 0.040
Car Shine 0.30
Music Channel 3
Enable Dither 1
Enable Mip Filter 0
Local Skins DDS 1
Shadow Mode 2
Vertical Sync 0
Lag Prevent 1
Min Frame Time 10
Game Limit FPS 1
Min Sleep 1
Debounce 40
Half Tex Res 0
Dedicated Host 0
AI Use Ply Setup 0
AI Use Ply Colours 0
Music Setup 0
Music Game 0
Music Replay 0
SPR Auto Save 1
MPR Auto Save 1
MPR Message Block 0
Options 9
Ed Char Size 1
Max Conns 4
Modem Type 3
Packs Per Sec 4
Cars In Race 4
Cars Per Guest 1
Cars Per Host 1
Admin Slots 0
MP Rules 524287
MP Flags 35
Host Filter 84
Cars Y 0
Cars N 0
Conn To Master 1
OutSim Mode 0
OutSim Delay 1
OutSim IP 0.0.0.0
OutSim Port 0
OutSim ID 0
OutGauge Mode 0
OutGauge Delay 1
OutGauge IP 0.0.0.0
OutGauge Port 0
OutGauge ID 0
SCREEN_CX 0.00
SCREEN_CY 0.00
SCREEN_XMUL 1.00
SCREEN_YMUL 1.00

That is my game config file, to add to all the rest of the diagnostics.

Ip is correct.
Master server port correct.
Server and game ports, correct?
DNS set to OpenDNS, as suggested as primary, my ISP nominated DNS as secondary.
Windows and router both DNScache flushed and shutdown and rebooted.
Windows firewall and router firewall opened to LFS.EXE, on the master server port, at the above IP address.
System files over-written with files posted by a really good hearted person.
Path variable problem found and fixed.
All suggested tests now show every thing is right.

And still my copy of S2 Alpha 0.5x10 can not connect to the master server to unlock.
Why won't this resolve?

Did you try changing the Master Port to 8080 in cfg.txt?